Gentlemen Bootleggers

The True Story of Templeton Rye, Prohibition, and a Small Town in Cahoots

Nonfiction, History, Americas, United States, 20th Century, Social & Cultural Studies, True Crime
Cover of the book Gentlemen Bootleggers by Bryce Bauer, Chicago Review Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Bryce Bauer ISBN: 9781613748510
Publisher: Chicago Review Press Publication: July 1, 2014
Imprint: Chicago Review Press Language: English
Author: Bryce Bauer
ISBN: 9781613748510
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Publication: July 1, 2014
Imprint: Chicago Review Press
Language: English

During Prohibition, while Al Capone was rising to worldwide prominence as Public Enemy Number One, the townspeople of rural Templeton, Iowa—population just 418—were busy with a bootlegging empire of their own. Led by Joe Irlbeck, the whip-smart and gregarious son of a Bavarian immigrant, the outfit of farmers, small merchants, and even the church Monsignor worked together to create a whiskey so excellent it was ordered by name: Templeton Rye. Gentlemen Bootleggers tells a never-before-told tale of ingenuity, bootstrapping, and perseverance in one small town, showcasing a group of immigrants who embraced the American ideals of self-reliance, dynamism, and democratic justice. It relies on previously classified Prohibition Bureau investigation files, federal court case files, extensive newspaper archive research, and a recently disclosed interview with kingpin Joe Irlbeck. Unlike other Prohibition-era tales of big-city gangsters, it provides an important reminder that bootlegging wasn’t only about glory and riches, but could be in the service of a higher goal: producing the best whiskey money could buy.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

During Prohibition, while Al Capone was rising to worldwide prominence as Public Enemy Number One, the townspeople of rural Templeton, Iowa—population just 418—were busy with a bootlegging empire of their own. Led by Joe Irlbeck, the whip-smart and gregarious son of a Bavarian immigrant, the outfit of farmers, small merchants, and even the church Monsignor worked together to create a whiskey so excellent it was ordered by name: Templeton Rye. Gentlemen Bootleggers tells a never-before-told tale of ingenuity, bootstrapping, and perseverance in one small town, showcasing a group of immigrants who embraced the American ideals of self-reliance, dynamism, and democratic justice. It relies on previously classified Prohibition Bureau investigation files, federal court case files, extensive newspaper archive research, and a recently disclosed interview with kingpin Joe Irlbeck. Unlike other Prohibition-era tales of big-city gangsters, it provides an important reminder that bootlegging wasn’t only about glory and riches, but could be in the service of a higher goal: producing the best whiskey money could buy.

More books from Chicago Review Press

Cover of the book Whiskey Bottles and Brand-New Cars by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Not So Fast by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book A World of Her Own by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book The Cool Gent by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Ultimate Speed by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book The Civil War for Kids by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Carnival Campaign by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book The Making of The Wizard of Oz by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Between XX and XY by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Don't Touch That! by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Industrial Revolution for Kids by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book The Young Investor by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Chicago Flashbulbs by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Gonzo Gizmos by Bryce Bauer
Cover of the book Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure by Bryce Bauer
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy